Rail tie and fastener.



T W FELTON RAIL TIE AND FASTENER. l 4 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13| 1918- 1 ,275,544 Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

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i M A TTOR/VEY.

'UNiTED sTiiTiis PATENT anion.

THOMAS FELTON,'OF SAN GABRIEL, TEXAS.

RAIL Tirreni) FASTENER. `L

To all whom t may concern .5 Y

MBe lit known that 1, THoMAs WV. vFELTON, a 'citizen of the United States', residing at San Gabriel, in the county of lMilam and State of Texas, have inventedfcertain new andl'useful Improvements in Fasteners, of which the following is a specification. v

The present invention relates to rail-roadv ties and rail fasteners, and aims to provide a noveland improved rail-tie and fastener which will support and hold the rails in a substantial manner and prevent displacement and spreading'thereof, so as to avoid wrecks or accidents and consequent loss of lives and property.

r1`he invention has for its obj ect the provision of a rail-road tie of novel construction to accommodate and brace the rails in a most eflective manner, and permit the parts to be easily put together and taken apart without requiring skilled labor.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope o-f what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Y Figure 1 is the elevation of the tie, portions being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of one end portion of the tie.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the removable inner rail braces.

The rail-tie proper is designated 4 and is constructed of iron, steel or other suitable material, so that it will be durable and strong. The end portions of the tie are offset downwardly, as at 5, and are provided with transverse depressions or channels 6 for snugly receiving the bases of the rails R which seat on said end portions 5, the walls of said depressions forming the shoulders 7 against which the outer edges of the rail bases abut, and the shoulders 8"y Rail Ties and Specification of Letters Patentv Fatemi-ted Aug, 13,A 191,8. applicati@ iii-3a rebruayiaieis. seriai 217,836. y i

'The portions 5 have integral 'therewith the upstanding outer: rail braces 10 offset inwardly to overlap the' outer {ianges of the rail bases and bear against Vthe webs vof the rails underneath the heads thereof. Theinward offsetting of the braces 10 gives them the ledges 1'1, andthe rails in bearing out-V wardly against the braces 10 ,will be pre'- vented froni spreading or tilting outwardly.

Removable inner braces 12,1 areensed at the inner sides ofthe rails to.v brace them from the'inside, and these braces decrease in thickness from theirrail engaging portionsto their opposite edges 13 which are preferably rounded to seat against the shoulders 9. Said shoulders 9 are undercut or vgrooved to receive the edges 13 of the ing the edges 13 down on the tie. .The Y braces 12 are shaped to overlap and fit on the inner flanges of the rail bases and have the lower shoulders 15 to abut the inner edges of the rail bases above and coinciding withV the shoulders or abutments 8. Each brace 12 is provided at its ends with lugs 16 projecting away from the corresponding rail at an angle with and beyond the fulcrum edge 13, to overlap the tie 4 at the opposite sides thereof behind the shoulders 9, and thus pi'event the lateral displacement or sliding of the brace 12 on the tie.

In applying the brace 12, the edge 13 thereof is seated on the respective end'portion '5 of the tie and then shifted against they shoulder 9 under the lip 14, the lugs 16 overlapping the sides of the tie. The rail engaging portion of the brace 12 is swung downwardly, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, to bring it under the head of the rail against the web and on the inner base flange. The brace 12 swings on the edge 13 as a fulerum, and said edge is held down bythe lip 14 which overlaps or overhangs it. The shoulder 9 also holds the brace -12 against movement away from the rail and the brace 12 will in fact drop into place of itself when set on the tie with its edge 13 near the shoulder.

The braces 10 and 12 are provided with transverse openings 17 for the reception of bolts 18 that are inserted therethrough and through holes in the rails, for clamping the iooV rails between the braces. The openings or apertures 17 and bolts 18 are located above the ledges '11, and washers 19 are disposed between the heads and nuts of the bolts and the braces, and areshaped to it the inclined surfaces of said braces. After the braces 12 are applied, the bolts can be readily inserted and tightened, whereby the rails are fastened to and supported by the tieV in a substanti al manner. By removing the bolts, the braces 12 can be readily swung upwardly and removed, for making' repairs.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A rail tie having and an inner shoulder, and a removable inner rail brace having a fulcrum edge to seat against said shoulder and means engageable with the tie to prevent displacement of said inner rail brace.

2. A rail tie having an outer rail brace,

an outer rail brace,

and an inner undercut shoulder, and a removable inner rall brace having a fulcruin edge to [it said shoulder and swing against the rail, and having lugs to overlap t 1e tie and prevent slidinO.

3. A rail tie having a pair of braces for clamping a rail therebetween, one being swingable downwardly and having an inclined face, and securing means extending through the braces and engaging said fac-e.

4. A rail tie having a brace, a shoulder and a seatfor the rail therebetween, a second bracel having a fulcrum edge to seat against said shoulder and swing toward the first named brace and seat for clamping a rail, the second named brace having an inclined face, and securing means extending through the braces and bearing against said inclined face.

THOS. W. FELTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for lfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, .Washngtan, D. C. 

